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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-03-18Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, March 18, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] SOUTH ALBANIA'S LEADERS ASK BERISHA TO RESIGN WITHIN THREE DAYSTirana, March 18 (MPA)Albanian President Sali Berisha received a deadline to resign within the next three days from the leaders of the coordinating committees in 12 cities located in southern Albania.If Mr. Berisha does not resign until then, they warn that southern Albania's armed civilians will advance towards Tirana and will attack the presidential mansion. However, the Albanian President is determined to hold on to his post, at least until June's elections. Yesterday he met with European Union offcials to whom he issued an appeal that they send humanitarian aid to his country. The recently-released Socialist leader Fatos Nano also asked Greece to provide help to Albania and pled the Albanian people not to leave the country. A.F. [02] GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN ARGYROCASTRO TODAYAthens, March 18 (MPA)Greece's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis is expected in Argyrocastro today where he will meet with representatives of the Greek minority.This morning, Mr. Kraniditis met at the Pentagon with Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos and the two men discussed the crisis in Albania and NATO's expansion. Following the meeting, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos confirmed that Albania's Defense Minister has requested aid from Greece and Italy in order to reconstruct the Albanian army once order is restored in his country. Moreover, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed that Greece is ready to participate in the multinational force to be assigned in Albania, whichever force this may be. A.F. [03] PREMIER TO ADDRESS THESSALONIKI'S GREECE-BALKANS BUSINESS CONFERENCEThessaloniki, March 18 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to close the Thessaloniki- held business conference on "Greece and the Balkans" this evening in a dinner hosted in his honor by the Northern Greece Industry Association.The Premier is expected to refer to the latest developments in Albania and the greater Balkan region. Addressing the conference this morning were the Greek and Cypriot Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Msgrs. Theodoros Pangalos and Alekos Michaelides respectively. A.F. [04] PREMIER MEETS WITH MAIN OPOSITION PARTY LEADER, DISCUSSES ALBANIAN CRISISAthens, March 18 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met with Miltiades Evert, the leader of Greece's main opposition party New Democracy in Athens today.The two men discussed the Albanian crisis and agreed on the ways that Greece should deal with the neighboring country's problems. Following the half-hour meeting, Mr. Evert stated that he and the Premier exchanged views on the next moves Greece is to make. "There was a coincidence of views on the ways that Greece should face the crisis in Albania, within the framework of the European Union and the international community, from here on," Mr. Evert stated. A.F. [05] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES THESSALONIKI'S CONFERENCEThessaloniki, March 18 (MPA)Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated today that a dialogue cannot be held with Turkey for as long as there is the Turkish threat of war against Greece.Addressing the Thessaloniki-held business conference of joint ventures in southeastern Europe, Mr. Pangalos further stated that such dialogue will lead to a worsening turn in the relationsd of the two countries. Referring to Turkey, Mr. Pangalos stressed that this country should resort to the International Court of Justice at The Hague if it deems that the international accords are not applied properly. Moreover, Mr. Pangalos stated that all those who maintain that Turkey does not have the cultural standards to enter the European Union are wrong. "We cannot become allienated because of the political conjuncture, but we must try to live with Turkey," the Foreign Minister said. Turkey, Mr. Pangalos said, has to choose among two paths: "One is the European opportunity and the other is that of domination. There is no room for domination in Europe and if Turkey handles correctly the necessary prerequisites for the European opportunity, then the Greek-Turkish differences will be automatically resolved." As for Cyprus, Mr. Pagnalos said that if the experiment of a federated country with a Turkish minority proves successful it will be the only in the world that will feature the co-existence of Islam and Europe. Referring to Albania, Mr. Pangalos expressed his concern and pointed out that nothing rules out the possibility of similar developments in other Balkan countries. In closing, though, the Greek Foreign Minister expressed his optimism that the current problems in the Balkans will be overcome and said that the Balkan opportunity for Greece is equal to the European one for the next decade. A.F. [06] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER ADDRESSES THESSALONIKI'S CONFERENCEThessaloniki, March 18 (MPA)Greece is willing to secure Albania's National Bank with a GRD20 billion loan form the National Bank of Greece, on favorable terms, as soon as the political situation in the neighboring country is stabilized, stated the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, speaking this afternoon at the Thessaloniki-held business conference titled "Greece and the Balkans".Moreover, the Minister stated that the Greek government will try to place this initiative within the framework of a wider European or international financial assistance plan. "Establishing conditions of steady progress in the Balkans requires a long-term strategy that aims at strengthening a mutual- benefit cooperation," stated Mr. Papantoniou. Prior to his address, the Greek Minister told journalists that the Balkan structure will not collapse, albeit he added that there is indeed a significant crisis which must be addressed through carefull planning. "Beyond the short-term hurdles, we must look at the Greek venture presence on a long-term basis and make some significant choices in regards to the presence of Greece's public agencies, such as the State Electricity Company, the State Telecommunications Company, etc.," Mr. Papantoniou said. Lastly, Mr. Papantoniou stated that if Albania's banking system is not reformed and its currency is not granted a basic value, then the country will not be salvaged. A.F. [07] CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION TO BE DISCUSSED AT JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEENicosia, March 18 (MPA)Cyprus' accession process to the European Union is to be discussed today at the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Cyprus-EU, to convene in Nicosia.The committee will also address the living conditions of those who are in the occupied territory while a European Parliament officials delegation will visit the occupied territory. A.F. [08] FYROM IN TURMOIL OVER "TAT" BANKSkopje, March 18 (MPA)The first phase of the investigation concering the illicit activities of FYROM's savings bank "TAT" was completed today and, according to Skopje's Central Bank director, all of "TAT"'s accounting books were proven to be cooked, that is, they kept double copies.Residents in the city of Monastery who had deposited their money in the bank that obviously used the pyramidal scheme of savings, held a protest rally demanding that their money is returned to them and that the government resign. "TAT''s Bank officaos are charged with embezzlement. A.F. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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